CELEBRATE EARTH MONTH
Abundant trees, natural areas and eco-friendly landscapes not only enhance the beauty of your property but also contributes to the health and climate resilience of the Granville area. Plus, research shows that access to areas with abundant trees improves mental health, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of community.
By maintaining and expanding tree cover in Granville and creating earth-friendly home landscapes we can create a more vibrant and climate-resilient community. Explore our resources and tips to maintain your home landscape that conserves natural resources and enhances the biodiversity and environmental health of Granville.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 7-8 p.m.
Granville Public Library | 217 E. Broadway
Is your home landscape prepared for the challenges of a changing climate? Learn how to create a beautiful, resilient yard with trees, shrubs, and perennials that can weather extreme conditions like heavy rains and droughts. Discover plant choices that not only enhance your landscape but also absorb carbon and support pollinators and local food webs. Presented by Go Green Granville and Pollinator Pathway of Licking County, this program will explore sustainable landscape design principles, climate-resilient plant options and innovations in sustainable lawn care.
Arbor Day tree planting at Granville Intermediate School | Photo by Susan King
Native trees & plants are adapted to our climate and are more drought and flood-tolerant than exotic plants. Native plants form the base of the foodweb that all species (including our own) depend on.
Grass lawns are carbon intensive to mow and maintain and don't provide habitat for pollinators. Reduce your lawn by converting part of it into a pollinator garden, pocket prairie or mini meadow.
Non-native, fast-growing species such as bush honeysuckle, barberry and burning bush threaten our parks and natural areas by overtaking the native plants that sustain pollinators & other wildlife.
Gas-powered leaf blowers, mowers and other equipment are significant sources of carbon dioxide as well as toxic and carcinogenic exhaust and fine particulate matter pollution, according to U.S.E.P.A.
Upgrade to electric and battery-operated lawn and garden equipment when possible and/or choose lawn care companies that use less-polluting electric equipment.
Lawn & garden chemicals are harmful to pollinators and may have toxic effects on other wildlife, children, pets and water resources. Skip the spray.
Leave some leaves around the base of trees and add them to garden beds. This provides habitat for butterflies and other pollinators to overwinter.
Wait until spring to "clean-up" or cut back native plants and perennials in order to provide shelter & food for pollinators through the winter months.
Gas-powered leaf blowers emit unhealthy levels of noise pollution and are a significant source of ozone and carbon dioxide. More than 100 cities have banned the use of gas- powered leaf blowers because of the noise, human health and environmental impacts. According to the California Air Resources Board, using one backpack leaf blower for one hour generates the same smog-forming emissions as a car driving 1,100 miles. Please put down the gas powered leaf blower and pick up a rake (or switch to a cleaner, battery-powered leaf blower for big jobs) this fall.
For more than 33 years, the Village of Granville has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The Village also received the prestigious Growth Award in 2022, which recognizes its commitment to responsible urban forest management.
Strategically planted trees conserve energy by providing shade in summer and serving as windbreaks in winter, reducing the need for heating and cooling, resulting in lower energy consumption and costs.
By fixing carbon during photosynthesis and storing it as biomass, trees act as a sink for CO2. Thus, growing trees reduce the level of atmospheric carbon and help to maintain a stable climate.
Trees slow the flow of water during heavy rain storm events and absorb water to reduce the impact of flooding.
Trees filter the air we breathe and reduce pollutants and noise.
Trees are essential for pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
Trees make our neighborhoods more attractive and desirable places to live, work, and play. Studies show trees increase property values 3-15%.
All new construction projects over one acre must adhere to the Granville Tree Preservation Ordinance. Adopted by Village Council in 2022, this ordinance requires a Tree Survey and Tree Protection Plan prior to beginning any construction. The goal of the ordinance is to protect existing trees, discourage wholesale clearing of land for development, encourage site design that preserves the natural environment and maintains the stability of slopes to control erosion.
Phlox blooming along Salt Run at Spring Valley Nature Preserve | Photo by Susan King
The Granville Tree & Landscape Commission is responsible for reviewing landscape development plans, directing the planting of trees in the Village, the annual Arbor Day celebration and Tree City USA program. The Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm in Council Chambers. Members include:
Diane Marshall, Shayne Miller, Susan King, Lynne Kishler, Linda Reynolds and Joe Leithauser (ex-officio member of Village Council).
Mulching around trees can help conserve soil moisture, improve soil structure, reduce soil compaction, suppress weeds and protect tree roots from damage from mowers.
Some best practices include:
Pull mulch away from the tree trunk and root flare and avoid “volcano” mulching, which involves piling mulch up at the base of trees. Extend mulch out to the tree’s drip line, if possible, and incorporate fallen leaves as a natural mulch.
Arborists recommend organic mulches over rocks or inorganic mulch. Organic mulch such as woodchips, hardwood mulch, leaf mulch, or simply leaving the leaves within the drip line provide benefits to the tree as they decompose.
Soft landings are plantings under native trees that provide critical habitat for pollinators. Leaf litter and low-growing plants under trees provide the needed shelter pollinators need to complete their life cycle.
Pollinator Pathway, a partnership of more than a dozen local organizations, is working to connect public parks and private land to create a continuous corridor of pollinator-friendly habitat. Butterfly signs indicate areas that have been planted with native plants to attract pollinators. Even the smallest green spaces, home gardens and median strips can be part of the Pollinator Pathway.
Trees along Newark-Granville Road | Photo by Susan King
A recent study by researchers at University of Maryland found that in places where people historically have left their fallen leaves to decompose, without removing them, the soil holds up to 32% more carbon on average.
Consider leaving a layer of leaves around the base of your trees instead of blowing or raking them to the curb. It's better for the planet-- and also better for pollinators, as the leaves provide vital habitat for butterflies and beneficial bees.
During rainstorms, water flowing over yards, driveways, and streets picks up and carries everything it encounters, which may include eroded soil, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, grease, leaves, and litter, and washes it into storm drains which eventually flow into the creeks and streams around Granville.
This stormwater pollution is exacerbated when a home or yard has a lot of impervious surfaces where water is channeled and directed to areas that don't allow it to naturally seep into the ground. Directing all the rainwater from your property directly to the street or even your neighbor's property is not a solution: it's the problem. The volume and velocity of water flowing off your property during a storm can cause destructive erosion and contribute to flooding.
With an increase in significant rain events over the last few years, managing stormwater runoff is even more important to help reduce flooding and prevent water getting in your basement. Learn more about ways to reduce stormwater runoff and prevent pollution on your property.
Rain gardens are an attractive and pragmatic way to capture roof runoff, especially when used with gutters and downspouts. These shallow areas can be planted with native flowers and shrubs which help slow and filter water, replenishing the aquifer and slowing the flow of water to local creeks.
Take care to prevent any grass clippings, yard debris, pet waste or any chemicals used in car repair from washing into streets, storm drains or culverts. Never drain pool or hottub water directly to storm drains.
Interested in getting more involved with sustainability initiatives in Granville? Would you like to nominate a resident or business for a Sustainability Spotlight on the website? Want to connect with Go Green Granville?
We'd love to hear from you!
Choose tree species that are native to Ohio and that are best suited for your property. Considerations include:
Size. Consider the mature tree height and canopy spread when deciding where to plant your tree.
Form. Trees come in many shapes. A columnar tree will grow in less space, for example, while a round or V-shaped form will provide more shade.
Growth rate. Slow growing species typically live longer than fast growing species.
Site conditions. Consider the proximity to buildings, power lines and underground utilities and also note the soil moisture and sun exposure of your site when selecting a tree.
Species. Evergreen trees can provide screening year round, whereas deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter. Trees native to Ohio are adapted to our soil, climate and other growing conditions.
Shade-loving native plants such as ferns, wild geranium, wild ginger, columbine and jacob's ladder can be planted below mature trees to serve as a green mulch, provide pollinator habitat and reduce the amount of area of lawn that requires weekly mowing. Get a comprehensive plant list and learn more about "soft landings" under trees.
Contact a certified arborist to assess the health of trees on your property, diagnose any diseases or safety issues, and provide expert guidance on the appropriate course of action to take.
i-Tree is a free, online tool from the USDA Forest Service that can quantify the impact of trees growing on your property. The tool estimates how much carbon dioxide the trees remove from the air, stormwater benefits and more.
Some recommended resources include:
Homegrown National Park, an initiative co-founded by Doug Tallamy, author of Nature's Best Hope
Garden for Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation
Wild Ones, an organization with local chapters
Denison Bioreserve at sunrise| Photo by Susan King